Electrode holder



1965 J. A. SIMPKIN ETAL 3,198,870

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed April 17, 1963 INVENTORS JOHN A. SIMPKIN BY EDWARD T. BROWN A7 TORNEV I United States Patent 3,l3,870 ELECTRGDE HOLDER John A. Sirnpirin, Marietta, Ghio, and Edward T. Brown,

Niagara Falls, N.Y., assignors to Union Carbide Qorporation, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,584 3 Claims. (Cl. 1316) This invention relates to an electrode holder for use in connection with mechanical devices for holding the electrodes employed in electric furnace operations.

Electrode sections used in electric furnaces may be up to several feet in diameter and, when connected to one another, may reach considerable length so that ohviously they are quite heavy and cumbersome to be posilively and effectively held during the melting operation. A portion of the electrode is consumed during melting and it is, therefore, necessary to lower successive sections of the electrode into the furnace in order to maintain continuity in the furnace operation.

The lowering of the electrode in the furnace, as Well as the holding of the electrode in the desired position and the conduction of electricity to the electrode, is accomplished by means of a clamp or holder which has to be fabricated in such a manner that its holding grip on the electrode may be released in order to lower the electrode in the furnace.

Previously, the operation of these clamps has been carried out manually by means of end or socket Wrenches turned by operators standing on the furnace itself. This is a dangerous and time-consuming operation. Mechanical means have been introduced to alleviate these practices, but known types and designs of electrode holders are based on principles involving clamping blocks secured by bolts, metal wedges driven directly against the electrode, contact plates connected with one another by flexible rings, glands held in place by levered cams, clamping shoes moving on pivots, piston-spring combinations, and others.

It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide an electrode holder which may be automatically actuated.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an electrode holder that can be operated automatically by a single person thereby achieving improvements in manpower requirements, safety, and time consumed.

These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In accordance with these objects, an electrode holder is provided comprising two semi-circular clamping bands of resilient material for supportably embracing an electrode, said bands pivotally connected at their rear ends, and each having projecting surfaces on their front ends whereby the projecting surface on one band rides over the projecting surface on the other band to bring the hands together and close their grip about an electrode, said projecting surfaces each having a slot therein for the insertion of a holding wedge when the slots in each surface are in alignment, a pair of removable clamping arms pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends, said clamping arms having inwardly projecting jaws for gripping the projecting surfaces on the clamping bands to compress said hands together and bring the openings in the projecting surfaces of the bands into alignment, and movement inducing means at the other end of the clamping arms for moving the ends of the arms about their pivot points to open and close the grip of the jaws at the other end of the arms.

In the drawings:

H6. 1 is a perspective view of the electrode holder shown mounted on a movable carriage;

3,198,379 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of. the electrode holder itselr with actuation attached;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the electrode holder showing the holder opening and closing mechanism.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the electrode holder assembly lil is shown gripping the electrode contact plates 11. The electrode contact plates 11 and associated tube structure 13 are supported by an overhead hydraulic system not shown here. When the electrode holder 19 is tightened around the contact plates 11, the electrode is supported in the furnace 14. When the electrode holder to is loosened, the contact plates 11 do not bear against the electrode to support it and so the electrode would slip into the furnace.

In FIG. 2 the electrode holder assembly comprises two semi-circular clamping bands 15 and 16. The rear ends 17 and E3 of the bands are pivotally connected by means of a spool or bolt 19 pulling together the U-shaped prongs 2t) and 21 which project outwardly from each of the ends of the clamping bands. The spool or bolt 19 may have hexagonal heads 22 which are recessed into appropriate slots not shown in the U- shaped prongs to prevent slippage of the spool from the prongs. The spool heads may be tightened to adjust the effective clamping band diameter to the diameter of the electrode being supported.

At the front ends of the clamping bands there are located projecting lugs 23 and 24. In the embodiment shown, the lugs consist of a tongue 26 and groove 25 dovetail arrangement. By sliding the tongue 26 of the right clamping band 16 into the groove 25 of the left clamping band 15, the clamping bands are brought together to close their grip about the electrode they encircle. The tongue and groove each have vertical slots 27 and 23 which are brought into alignment when the clamping bands are brought together. It is to be understood that the clamping band diameter and spool length T9 are so arranged in reference to the diameter of the electrode that the clamping bands firmly grip the electrode when the openings 27 and 28 are in line. A suitable wedge 30 can be then inserted through the slots 27 and 28 to maintain the grip of the clamping bands.

In order that the grip of the clamping bands may be loosened about the electrode to permit slipping of the electrode into the furnace, an electrode holder opening mechanism 31 is shown comprising a pair of clamping arms 32 and 33. In this embodiment, the arms 32 and 33 are shown connected to each other by a linkage cross bar 34 through pivot pins 35 and 36. Pins 35 and 36 may be of an eccentric design so as to provide adjustment. At the far ends of the clamping arms there are jaw-shaped projections 37 and 38 which mate with cavities 39 and 4G in the sides of the projecting lugs 23 and 24 at the front end of the clamping bands. Bumpers 41 are located on the linkage cross bar 34 to guide the jaws of the clamping arms into the corresponding cavities on the clamping bar lugs while maintaining the proper distance between the units.

By pushing open the ends 42 and 43 of the clamping arms opposite the jaws 37 and 38, the arms 32 and 33 of the mechanism pivot about the linkage cross bar 34 and the jaws of the clamping arms compress the lugs of the clamping bands bringing the slots 27 and 28 in the tongue 26 and groove 2'7 into alignment thereby allowing free removal or insertion of the wedge 30. When the wedge is removed, the jaws may be opened, loosening the grip of the clamping bands about the electrode.

The clamping arms are acut'ated by the hydraulic cylinder 44. The cylinder is energized by hydraulic fluid introduced into the cylinder through hose 45 connected to cylinder port 46. The amount of hydraulic pressure apv3 plied to the cylinder will determine whether the cylinder is compressed or extended thereby opening or closing the clamping arms.

The clamping arm assembly 31 is connected through bolt holes 47 in the linkage cross arm 34 to the boom 43 of a movable carriage assembly 4-9. The boom 48 is supported on a mast 50 carried by a hand truck 51. Also located on the boom 43 is a wedge handling device having a hook (not shown) for insertion into an opening 52 in the wedge for lifting the Wedge out of the slots in the tongue and groove, and, also, for lowering the wedge back into the slots. The wedge handling device consists of a rod 53 which holds the hook, and which is actuated by the operator at the other end of the boom by means of a handle 54.

The counterweights on the operators end of the boom 48 counterbalances the boom for the weight of electrode holder actuating mechanism 31, and its hydraulic cylinder. Also shown is the hydraulic pump and motor combination 56 and pressure valve 57 for regulating hydraulic fluid pressure in hose 45 for opening or closing the clamping bands.

In operation, an electrode 12 is first lowered through the open electrode holder assembly it) into the furnace. The movable carriage 49 may be brought into position as shown in FIG. 1 so that the jaws 3'7 and 33 of the electrode holder actuating mechanism 31 (which is supported on the boom 43) are fitted into the cavities 39 and in the projecting lugs 225 and 24- on the now open clamping bands. By energizing the hydraulic pump and motor combination 56 hydraulic fluid enters the hydraulic cylinder 24 forcing the ends of the clamping arms apart and pivoting them about the linkage cross arm 34. The jaws 3'7 and 33 at the opposite end of the arms are thereupon forced together compressing the tongue and groove lug sections together, closing the clamping hands about the electrode and bringing the slots 27 and 23 in the tongue 26 and groove 25 into alignment. The wedge 34 is guided into the slots thereby holding the clamping bands in compression about the electrode. The electrode is now supported by the electrode holder 1% and contact plates H. The jaws 37 and 38 of the electrode holder actuating mechanism 31 can then be opened by releasing the pressure in the cylinder 44-. With the jaws opened, the mechanism can be disengaged and wheeled away to per-form other operations on other electrodes.

When a portion of the electrode has been consumed in the melting operation and it is desired to slip the electrode deeper into the furnace, the movable carriage is again rought into position with the jaws of the electrode holder ctuating mechanism fitted into the cavities in the side of the lugs at the front end of the clamping bands. When hydraulic fluid is delivered to the hydraulic cylinder, the jaws compress the tongue and groove sections of the projecting lugs together bringing the openings in the tongue and groove into alignment and allowing removal of the wedge by means of the hook inserted therein and lifted by the rod and handle. With the wedge removed, the operator may release pressure on the hydraulic cylinder thereby loosening the jaws and clamping bands to the extent necessary to allow the electrode to slip. When the electrode is slipped sufficiently far into the furnace, the clamping bands are tightened as before by increasing the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder, the wedge replaced, and the electrode holder actuating mechanism and carriage removed.

The invention here has been described in terms of its specific embodiment. Other modifications are included within the scope of this invention. For example, the

clamping band is described as made of two semicircular clamps. For very large electrodes, it might be desirable to divide the clamping band into three or more sections.

It is seen from the foregoing description that with only a single operator, and in a relatively short period of time, it is possible with the electrode holder of this inven- 4 tion to handle with ease and safety the operation of electric furnace electrodes.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode holder comprising two semi-circular clamping bands of resilient material for supportably embracing an electrode, said bands pivotally connected at their rear ends, and each having projecting surfaces on their front ends, the projecting surface on one band adapted to ride over the projecting surface on the other band to bring the bands together and close their grip about an elect-rode, said projecting surfaces each having a slot therein for the insertion of a holding wedge when the slots in each surface are in alignment, a pair of clamping arms pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends, said clamping arms having inwardly projecting jaws for gripping the projecting surfaces on the clamping bands to compress said bands together and bring the openings in the projecting surfaces of the bands into alignment, and

movement inducing means at the other end of the clamping arms for moving the ends of the arms about their pivot points to open and close the grip of the jaws at the other end of the arms.

2. An electrode holder comprising two semi-circular clamping bands of resilient material for supportably embracing an electrode, said pivotally connected at their rear ends, and each having horizontal projecting surfaces on their front ends forming a tongue and groove arrangement whereby the tongue on the projecting surface on one band rides into the groove on the projecting surface on the other band when the bands are forced together to close their grip about an electrode, said tongue and groove surfaces each having a vertical slot therein for the insertion of a holding wedge when the slots in each surface are in alignment, a pair of clamping arm pivotally connected at a point intermediate tLElf end-s, said clamping arms having inwardly projecting jaws for gripping the projecting surfaces on the clamping bands to force said bands together and bring the openings in the tongue and the groove into alignment, and movement inducing means at the other end of the clamping arms for moving the ends of the arms about their pivot points to open and close the grip of the jaws at the other end of the arms.

3. An electrode holder and support mechanism comprising an electrode holder having two semi-circular clamping bands of resilient material for supportably embracing an electrode, said band pivotally connected at their rear ends, and each having projecting surfaces on their front ends whereby the projecting surface on one band adapted to ride over the proecting surface on the other band to force the hands together and close their grip about an electrode, said projecting surfaces each having a slot therein for the insertion of a holding wedge when the slots in each surface are in alignment, a pair of clamping arms for clamping about the projecting surfaces on the bands to force the hands together and supported at the end of a movable boom, said clamping arms pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends and having inwardly projecting jaws for gripping the projecting surfaces on the clamping bands to force said bands together and bring the openings in the projecting surfaces of the bands into alignment, and movement inducing means at the other end of the clamping arms for moving the ends of the arms about their pivot points to open and close the grip of the jaws at the other end of the arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,148 4/11 Heroult l3-l6 1,445,286 2/23 Bosco 2421 2,834,824 5/58 Van Nostran 13-16 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRODE HOLDER COMPRISING TWO SEMI-CIRCULAR CLAMPING BANDS OF RESILIENT MATERIAL FOR SUPPORTABLY EMBRACING AN ELECTRODE, SAID BANDS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THEIR REAR ENDS, AND EACH HAVING PROJECTING SURFACES ON THEIR FRONT ENDS, THE PROJECTING SURFACE ON ONE BAND ADAPTED TO RIDE OVER THE PROJECTING SURFACE ON THE OTHER BAND YO BRING THE BANDS TOGETHER AND CLOSE THEIR GRIP ABOUT AN ELECTRODE, SAID PROJECTING SURFACES EACH HAVING A SLOT THEREIN FOR THE INSERTION OF A HOLDING WEDGE WHEN THE SLOTS IN EACH SURFACE ARE IN ALIGNMENT, A PAIR OF CLAMPING ARMS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, SAID CLAMPING ARMS HAVING INWARDLY PROJECTING JAWS FOR GRIPPING THE PROJECTING SURFACES ON THE CLAMP BANDS TO COMPRESS SAID BANDS TOGETHER AND BRING THE OPENINGS IN THE PROJECTING SURFACES OF THE BANDS INTO ALIGNMENT, AND MOVEMENT INDUCING MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE CLAMPING ARMS FOR MOVING THE ENDS OF THE ARMS ABOUT THEIR PIVOT POINTS TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE GRIP OF THE JAWS AT THE OTHER END OF THE ARMS. 